STATE HOETICULTURAL SOCIETY. 127 



Sharpless — Or Shapeless would have probably been the more 

 suitable name for it — has its large size and healthy foliage to recom- 

 mend it; but its natural deformity frequently prevents it from ripen- 

 ing up properly, and with me it will soon be replaced by the 



Ontario — I fruited this kind to a certain extent last season and 

 like it very much. The plant is like the Sharpless, but the fruit is 

 much better in appearance and uniform in shape. I shall plant it 

 extensively. 



Mt. Vernon — A fine berry, and very prolific; but the ease with 

 which the calyx separates from the fruit, makes it rather undesirable 

 for market purposes. 



Sucker State — This is a fair berry, but turns somewhat soft in 

 warm, damp weather. 



Golden Defiance — I got this kind from E. P. Roe eight years 

 ago, and have planted it regularly every year up to the present time. 

 It is a beautiful berry, but requires very careful handling. If the 

 season is unfavorable it is apt to turn soft. 



Kentuchij — This kind is very late. I have several times in- 

 tended to discard it, but have never been able to find any other to 

 just fill its place. I planted more largely of it last spring. If picked 

 early and marketed at once, though rather unattractive in appear- 

 ance, its eating qualities are very good. 



Crescent — So often described as to be unnecessary to say any- 

 thing further here, except that I do not need it. 



Manchester — I had almost come to the conclusion to discard 

 this kind, but happening to have a few plants of it in low, moist 

 ground, that did very well, I concluded to try it a little longer. Its 

 great fault is its tendeney to rust. 



The above kinds I consider good as far as stated, and they are 

 about the only kinds upon which I place my dependance for market 

 purposes at present. 



In conclusion I will state that in the past I have tried the Bid- 

 well, Big Bob, Crystal City, Downing, Duchess, Forest Rose, Glen- 

 dale, Capt. Jack, Jucunda, Monarch, Nianan, Piper, Sterling, Vick, 

 Wilson, and many others whose names I fail to remember at present. 

 Many of them, after paying a big price for plants, I discarded as 

 worthless, while others were superceded by better kinds. I am still 

 looking for my ideal strawberry, 



AD-INTERIM REPORT FOR SOUTHERN ILLINOIS. 

 BY J. S. BROWNE, ALTOlir. * 



Mr. President: — Leaving Alton on the morning of November 

 19, I arrived at Centralia the same evening, where I found berry- 

 growers generally feeling very despondent. The past season's berry 

 crop has been almost a failure; on all new beds it was destroyed by 

 the insect that I believe they call thrips. The old patches, which al- 



